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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,July 2,2018 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> 5. GIRL SCOUT PROJECT—SEVEN NATIONS PARK <br /> Georgia Green and Arianna Roban addressed the Park Commission regarding their silver award project at <br /> Seven Nations Park. Green stated the silver award is the highest award that a cadet can receive. The <br /> main objectives are for the project to be sustainable and to address a problem in the community or <br /> improve the community in some fashion. <br /> Roban stated pollinators like bees and butterflies are important and need our help. Three-fourths of the <br /> world's flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world's food crops depend on pollinators to <br /> reproduce. Some scientists estimate that one out of every three bites of food people eat exists because of <br /> animal pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, birds bats, beetles, and other insects. However, habitat <br /> loss and environmental contaminants have contributed to the decline of many species of pollinators. <br /> Green stated their goal is to help improve this situation by planting a pollinator garden at Seven Nations <br /> Park. This will help improve the problem by including more pollinator plants in an area that does not <br /> currently have very many. Green stated they would like to plant swamp milk weed, purple cone flowers, <br /> meadow blazing star, black-eyed Susan,New England aster, and bee balm, which are all perennials and <br /> will come back every year. The project will include designing three pollinator gardens that will have a <br /> natural feel and look compatible with other Minnesota native plants. <br /> Green noted the red dots on the map depict the areas that they would like to plant the gardens. <br /> Green stated the goals are to incorporate native flowers into a pollinator garden in a park where more <br /> wildlife is desired and to benefit the community by attracting more pollinators. Green indicated they <br /> would like to complete the project by the end of the summer and that they have enlisted and consulted <br /> with a master gardener regarding the placement of plants. The plants will need approximately three years <br /> to become fully established. Green stated they have discussed this project with Jason from the City of <br /> Orono, who has agreed to mow the pads that are needed as well as till the soil. The financial cost of the <br /> project is $500, which is being requested from the City. <br /> Roban stated they have enlisted the help of their troop, family and friends to see that this project is <br /> completed. When the project is completed, Roban stated they will have the newspaper write an article <br /> about forward thinking and the overall project. <br /> Meyers asked if someone from the troop will be maintaining the area for the next three years. <br /> Green stated the garden should be fully sustainable and that the flowers will naturally spread. The plants <br /> will eventually take over the area and be a wild flower kind of area, but it is anticipated it will be three <br /> years before the plants start spreading and fully flourish. <br /> Meyers asked if$500 is enough to do three gardens of this size. <br /> Green indicated it should be. <br /> Johnson stated the Park Commission would be open if they encounter the need for additional money. <br /> Green indicated the plants will be purchased at wholesale. <br /> Page 5 of 11 <br />